And What I Found There - Book Two

2. Life is a Tough Crowd

"First thing to understand," the White Knight is telling me about my Labors after breakfast (which was -as predicted- torture). "These Labors are designed to challenge your mind, body, and soul, so you will need to learn how to protect and utilize all of these, alright?" He stops pacing in front of me, we're outside and I'm sitting on the marble hedge that surrounds the training court.

The training court looks like a huge slab of marble cut like a diamond, but there are multiple layers to the court. Each one is higher and slightly smaller than the diamond below it and there's something different to do on each level, like an agility course. Only super high up.

I nod. "Got it."

"Your mind will try to play tricks on you," Cornelius goes on, resuming pacing back and forth. The sunlight makes our golden hair gleam. "So be wary, but simultaneously you must depend on your mind to conjure a solution. You must train your spirit not to waver, you must build your body up to a warrior's physique." I blush as I glance down at my knobby knees. "And you must always be aware of your soul and avoid all harm that attempts to ensnare it."

"Sounds like I gotta long road ahead of me..." I exhale. And only two weeks to do it in...

"Heads up, Cornelius!" Quill calls from his spot on the top of the training diamond, he made it look effortless conquering each level. "Looks like the ol' Queen of Hearts plans on paying us a visit."

"Unbelievable," Cornelius mutters, turning to watch the Queen approach, his silver tipped mustache twitching with annoyance. "Haven't you been informed, Your Majesty, that we're training today?" He calls as she bustles over, dressed in a dramatic black furry M-skirt and a short-sleeved gigot top. Her collection of red and black tattoos of seis, roses, hearts, and snakes are on full display across her pale limbs and bouncing, buxom bosom.

A huge white rabbit -about two feet or so and dressed in a waistcoat and a pocket watch, hops along beside her, carrying a big red parasol to keep the sunlight off the Queen.

"I just wanted to see the little poppet at work," she trills as she swoops by. "How are things coming, peach?" She asks me, her wisteria-colored eyes looking me over.

"Umm...?" I look around as if for inspiration.

"Just peachy," Quill calls as he expertly climbs down from the towering training diamond. "Thanks for popping by, Your Majesty, but we don't wish to keep you occupied," he smiles dashingly.

She scowls but Cornelius nods approvingly at his apprentice. "Indeed, farewell, Your Majesty," he gives a curt nod.

"Saint's sake," she pats her swishy lob of scarlet, rosebud curls. "One would think that you gentlemen didn't want me around."

"Would they now?" Cornelius huffs.

"But of course!" She gives a light laugh. "I'm not so easily deterred," she purrs, there's a faint edge laced in her gossamer tone. "Anyway, I swung by to see if I can help train the little one. I'm quite the expert warrior, you know?" She nearly sneers.

"That definitely wouldn't be necessary," the White Knight says with a faint scowl. "We have everything under control."

"Whatever," she shrugs and snatches the parasol from her rabbit to twirl over her shoulder. "I just want to ensure that the little duckie understands that I'm here to help," she smiles and leans closer to me, I struggle to hold my composer. "I foresee you getting everything you deserve, crumpet..." She softly whispers.

"Quite enough," Cornelius puts an arm between us.

The Queen of Hearts smiles as she steps back. "I think so... Oh and by the way, poppet, I've been meaning to tell you -"